RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Propagating Dan was awarded a Silver-gilt medal for his show garden, The Garden of Potential, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016.

Here are a few of our inspirations…

The Garden of Potential had a multitude of influences - from the inherent energy held within boulders that perch on Snowdonia's mountainsides (rocks are slow life), to the idea of oneness in Buddhist teaching, to dew-spattered meadows beside Icelandic waterfalls - rather than having an overt or concrete theme. Dan wanted this garden, as any he designs, to provoke an individual response in the visitor for itself (no guidebook necessary).

Here are some of the ideas that came out of the wellspring and come together in The Garden of Potential…

Pathfence - a path that becomes a fence. Inspired by the poorly-constructed fence at Dan's old Peckham lodgings that blew over in a mild gust. Inside or outside, where is the boundary and do we need them in gardens?

Elaborate Gutter - the disdain for rain means we funnel it away as soon as it hits the earth. Let's enjoy the journey! Our floating rill channelled it through Carlo Scarpa-inspired shapes of oak so we could appreciate the precipitative experience a little more.

But Dan would be happy if you didn't know any of this, as long as the garden left an impression on you. Preferably a good one, but he's not fussy.